Tamperproof closure



2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY W INVENTOR. BY

June 20, 1939. A. SCHAUER TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Original Filed Oct. 191934 June 20, 1939. v A, H R 9 2,162,752

TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Original Filed Oct. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wINVENTOR.

Patented June 20, 1939 ATENT OFFICE TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE Adolf Schauer,Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to John Hamberger, Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application October 19, 1934, Serial No. 748,997 Renewed October 25,1938 17 Claims.

This invention relates to tamperproof closures.

One object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closurecomprising an indicator member and a locking spring therefor socoordinated with the closure and container that the spring aids orcauses breakage of the indicator member upon removal of the closure.

Heretofore it has been known to provide indicator members breakable asby impact with a hammer or by means of cams or locking teeth uponangular movement of the indicator member, or by subjecting the latter toa torsional stress. These structures have certain disadvantages in thefirst case because a separate tool ,was required; in the second case,because the cams or locking teeth rendered assembling difiicult in thatproper angular positioning of the parts in the alined relation thereofwas necessary.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide improvedtamperproof closures which shall avoid these defects.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a tamperproof closure theparts whereof are ar- 25 ranged in an improved manner for simple andrapid axial assembling in interlocked relation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tamperproofclosure such that the indicator member may, if desired, be broken by theaction 80 of cams or teeth acting in cooperation with the lockingspring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closurewherein the closure and indicator member are so coordinated that the 35-latter c'annotbe angularly moved to and fro to loosen the closure, as inthose cases where the indicator member completely conceals the closure.

It will be appreciated that the objects of the invention, unlessotherwise stated, relate to ring 40 as well as cap type indicators, andthat the spring may be separate or a part of the closure, and connectedto the closure or to the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof closurehaving few and simple 45 parts, and which is inexpensive to make andassemble on a quantity production basis, and which is neat, highlycompact, and durable,.reliable, convenient, safe and efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 50 will become. apparentas the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novelcombinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in 55 theirpreferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are designatedby the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section showing a tamperproof' closureembodying the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional viewstaken respectively on the lines 2-2 and3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional fragmentary view of a modified form ofthe invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a third modification of theinvention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of a fourth modification of theinvention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-7 of Fig. 6. n

Fig. 8 is a. vertical sectional view of a fifth modification of theinvention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a sixth modification of theinvention.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line I l--l I of Fig. 10.

The advantages of the invention as here on lined are best realized whenall of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less thanthe whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, that the same may be incorporated in .several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawings, there fore, are submittedmerely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the container neck [I] has a shoulder orhead I I, said bead carrying a plurality of toothor wedge-likecircumferential projections l2 and said projections being integral withthe bead and, a column like upward extension of the container, with theprojections l2 interlocking with similar inwardly directed projectionsE3 of the outer indicator caps Hi. The lower portion of the wall orskirt H) of said outer cap is outwardly and downwardly extended for thepurpose of suitably housing its integrally formed inward extendingprojections I3.

The underside of said projections l3, being flush with the edge of thewall or skirt normally substantially rest on top of bead II.

The closure cap 16 is preferably a screw cap which engages the thread I!of the container by means of the inner thread l8. 7

The top of the cap l6 compresses an elastic sealing disc or liner IQ ofsuitable material against the sealing surface or top of the wall of thecontainer neck to produce a liquidand airtight seal.

A spring ring 25, located between the edge of the skirt of the closurecap and a circular shelflike top 2| or" said column-like upwardextension of the container, has a fiat portion provided with a pluralityof wedges 22, adapted to engage or to be pressed into similarly shapednotches 23 in the shelf-like top H of the container.

Said fiat portion of the spring ring 20 has outwardly and angularlydownward bent lips or prongs 25 adapted to engage or grip with aninwardly directed interrupted or continuous projection or shoulder 25 ofthe cover cap, said shoulder being of triangular shape in cross section.

Said outer cap, if made of moldable plastic material, may have the upperportion of'its wall contracted as shown to permit easier molding.

In use, the ring spring is, first brought in place, so that its wedgesengage the notches in the shelflike top of the container, but with aclearance being provided between the shelf-like top and the underside ofthe fiat portion of the spring ring to allow for variation in dimensionsof the parts. If new the inner seal cap is screwed into place it willcontact with the flat portion of the spring and press its wedges downinto the notches in the shelf-like top of the container and thus lockthe spring against movement in any direction.

Then the outer or indicator cap is applied to cause its tooth-likeprojections l3 to register with the spacing between said projections [2.The indicator cap will then drop until its shoulder 2d contacts with thespring lips 25. A pressure exerted upon the top of said indicator capwill cause deflection of the spring lips sufficient to permit theengagement of said lips with the upper face or" the shoulder 24 to thuscause the indicator cap to be locked against axial movement and alsoagainst rotary movement through the interlocking tooth-like projections.

By looking against a movement is meant locking against any substantialmovement, allowing for ordinary clearance and play. This may apply'toaxial and rotary movements.

After engagement, the spring lips, having sufficient elasticity, willnormally move upward or spring back against the inner Wall of theindicator cap and thereby produce enough friction with the wall toprevent any play or slight rattling of said indicator cap.

If now an attempt is made to remove the indicator cap by turning same ineither direction, its lower portion will be expanded over thecircumferential projections l2 and break, tear or burst the indicatorcap to form a tell-tale evidence of an attempt made to gain access tothe inner seal cap.

In attempting to remove the indicator cap, an axial pull may be exertedthereon instead of a turning movement, or the indicator cap may besubjected simultaneously to such axial and torsional stresses. The axialmovement referred to will cause upward and outward deflection of theouter spring tongues 25. Since the edges of these tongues bear againstthe side wall of the indicator cap at its junction with the shoulder 24,the spring imparts an expanding bursting stress to the indicator memberto readily break the same. Hence a person who is not conversant with theoperation of the device, will experience no dilhculty in opening theclosure, because he can remove the indicator cap by either axial orturning movements, and with particular ease by a combined axial andturning motion. This spring action is provided for in all forms. of theinvention hereinafter described, whether the upward stress on the springbe produced by the indicator member as in Figs. 5, 6 and 8, or by theclosure cap in the normal unscrewing of the latter, as in Figs. i and10. Hence by using my spring together with looking teeth the indicatormember may be broken in turning, by cam action or by simple torsionalstress, depending on the thinness or weakness of different parts of theindicator wall. Should the indicator be thus broken above the spring,the lower part of the indicator may remain locked in place as apermanent indicator. If the breakage occurs below the spring, the breakmust be sufficient to release the entire indicator from the spring.

In certain cases, it is desirable to nonrotat ably interconnect theclosure and indicator members, as in response to relative axialassembling movement. Hence the closure cap may have external axiallyextending irregularities such as circumferential knurling M5, theindicator member having like irregularities lill' for registeringtherewith, the circular pitch of these irregularities beingsubstantially smaller than that of the breaking teeth l2, l3, and theelements iii? being engageable for only a short distance with theelements H35, in order that the teeth i2, it shall interengage as abovestated, prior to interengagement of the elements I05, i 37. This assureseasy and rapid assembling and prevents any backlash in the teeth l2, l3from being utilized to angularly move the indicator member to and fro inorder in turn to angularly shift the spring or the closure cap,whichever happens to be in direct contact with the indicator member. Inother words, a person cannot have his patience rewarded by the steadyworking of the indicator member to surreptitiously remove the contentsof the container. When the elements 505, It? are used, the wedgeengagement of the spring at 22, 23 may be eliminated, with the closurecap being spaced from the indicator member. The principle of theelements 985, l! is further disclosed in Fig. 6.

In Figure 4, I have shown a modified form of the bottle closure. Thebead 45 of the bottle neck may carry the ring or band 46 of breakablematerial. The lower portion of the band is circumferentially widened asat l! and carries at its inner lower end a ratchet tooth-like annularprojection or shoulder 48.

The upper end of the ring or band has an inwardly directed flange itadapted to engage the lower outwardly directed continuous shoulder 50 ofthe seal cap i. The neck part has also an outer threaded part 52 to beengaged by a similar inner thread 53 of the seal cap, while a liner 54provides a liquidand air-tight seal with the aperture of the container.

A conically shaped spring 55 is provided having inwardly and outwardlydirected prongs or tongues 56, 5?, the lower of which engage the ratchettooth-like shoulder 38 of the band, while the upper prongs or tongues 55are snapped into the groove like recess formed underneath thecircumferential shoulder 58 which may be formed with interruptions orspaces for the insertion of a tool. The flat solid middle portion of thesubstantially conically shaped spring ring rests against a bevelledshoulder 59 of the bottle neck.

The widened lower portion of band 46 is mainly for the purpose ofallowing its ratchet toothlike shoulder 48 to clear the'shoulder 50 ofthe seal cap.

In Figure 5, the usual shoulder-like bead II of the container serves tosubstantially support the outer indicator cap I2, with its outwardly anddownwardly extended lower portion 13 being provided for the purpose ofhaving the ,in-

wardly directed projections I4 formed. therein. Said projections 14 matewith the tooth-like projections of the container. I

Above the projections 14, the inner wall of the indicator cap has aratchet-tooth-like inwardly directed annular shoulder "I6 which may becontinuous or interrupted for the purpose of gripping or engaging withthe outer prongs 11 of a spring ring '38, the inner prongs I9 of whichengage with a clamping action in the groove 80 forrned by a bevelledshoulder 8| of the container neck.

Said spring is modified in this case by having its middle solid panelfiat instead of conically shaped as before described so as to give abetter seating of the spring on the container shoulder, and at the sametime the plane portion of the spring enables easier application of thesame by means of a suitable tool.

The container neck is threaded as at 82 to engage the inner thread 83 ofthe sealing closure cap 85 having liner 85 of any suitable compositionto effect a liquid and air-tight seal. Said inner seal cap or closuremay thereby be of any type or description independent of the outerindicator cap. a

In Figures 6 and 7, the bead or shoulder 08 may serve as a support forthe lower edge of the outer or indicator cap 99, said cap having at itslower outwardly and downwardly extended por tion I00 inwardly directedtooth-like projections Iii! mating with wedgeor cam-like projectionsAbove said projections of the indicator cap the same is equipped with aninner ratchet-toothlike shoulder I03 which is engaged by the lips orprongs I04 of the downwardly and outwardly 1 extending portion of theinner seal cap I05, which is preferably of metal. Said cap I05 has atits upper portion projecting knurls or corrugations I06 mating withsimilarly shaped corrugations I0? on the inside of the indicator capnear its upper part, and this arrangement may be used in othermodifications as in Fig. 1 and in ac.

cordance with the objects of the invention.

Between the top part of the indicator capand of the inner cap a concavedplate similar to a diaphragm I08 is interposed to prevent play of theindicator cap.

Below the upper edge or rim of the container and the inner cap, a linerI09 of any suitable material is interposed.

When mounting the device, the inner cap is screwed down first, and thediaphragm is placed on top of said cap, and then the outer indie catcris placed on the bottle neck and its extreme bottom end will ride on topof the cam-like projections of the container until'the projections arealigned with the recesses sothat the indicator cap automatically drops,and witha slight pressure exerted upon its ratchet-tooth-likeprojections I03 will snap under the lips I04 of the inner cap I05 and-solock the outer. cap 09 to the container both caps and container are nowlocked against relative movement in all directions. It is noted that thecircular pitch of the knurl teeth I06, I0! is substantially smaller thanthat of the teeth or irregularities IOI, I02 and the teeth IOI, I02engage prior to the knurl teeth I06, I01.

When it is attempted to remove the indicator cap, by turning the same ineither direction, the tooth-like projections will distend or expand. thelower portion of the indicator cap so that it will split. a

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 theshoulder-like bead IIO of the container serves as a support for theindicator cap I I I that is made of breakable material.

The lower portion of the indicator cap II I is outwardly and downwardlyextended, a's at'II2 for the purpose of having inwardly directed camorwedge-like projections II3 which engagevwith similar tooth-likeprojections II4 forming an integral part ofthe container.

Above said projections of the indicator cap, the same is formed withinner angularly spaced ratchet-tooth-like shoulders H5 for the purposeof engaging underneath the edge I I6 of the continuous circular flaredspring part II! of the inner seal cap II8 which may be a metal screw capand provided with circumferentially extending corrugations or knurls H9for the purpose of conveniently handling the cap. Said screw cap engagesthe container with its thread I20. A liner or gasket m'ray seal theoutlet of the container as in Fig. 6, at I119.

The tamperproof closure is assembled by first tightly screwing down thecap I I8, and then forcibly axially applying the indicator cap, I II sothat its ratchet-tooth-like shoulders II5 will deflect the flared part II1 and snap underneath the flaring portion of the seal cap. Now the partI I! returns to circular form and looks with the shoulders 5 I5. Sincethe teeth I I3, I I4 have been initially correctly positioned relativeto each other, they will directly interengage.

If an attempt is made to remove the indicator cap by turning the same ineither direction, the locking projections of the indicator cap willwedge with the projections of the container and ride along their lateralangular sides and will thereby expand especially the lower portion ofthe indicator cap wall and break or burst the same. I

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 the beadedshoulder I62 of the container serves to prevent access to the springfrom underneath the indicator band.

The construction of this frangible band is nearly the same as shown inFigure 4, with the exception that its flange I64 need not be tapered.Said flange I64 engages the beaded portion I 65 of a metal screw capI66. The inner surface of said flange may be knurled similar to theshape of the knurls I61 in the upper portion of the screw cap, for thepurpose of gaining an additional gripping surface if necessary.

The threaded part or neck I68 of the container engages similar threadsI69 of thecap.

Asusual-said caphas a liner Ill) of suitable material to seal the outletof the container airand liquid-tight.

As in Figure 4, the band I63 is held in place by 5: a substantiallyconically shaped spring ring with inner and outer lips I1 I, H2,

The-outer lips engage the inwardly directed bevelled shoulder H3 of theindicator band. The inner lips 'IH of the spring grip or clamp into a loroove or recess underneath a bevelled shoulder 514 of the container.

Said shoulder I14 may be discontinuous for the insertion of a suitabletool to force the spring ring into-place. In all such cases using asimilar 15 type of conveniently shaped spring there may be also used anexpanding and collapsible tool tapered similar to the upper bevelledportion of shoulder lid to mount such a spring.

The band with its flange Hid locks the seal cap against removal.

'The middle solid panel I75 of the spring rests against or is'seated ona bevelled shoulder of the container as shown.

'In mounting the closure, the locking spring I 75 is first placed uponthe neck and forced over its shoulder H4 into the recess by means of asuitable tool, so that the inner lips ill of the spring snap intoengagement with the neck of the container, and then the metal seal capis applied and screwed tight. Then the brittle indicator band is appliedover said seal cap to pass the knurls of the cap and it will drop downfreely until it contacts with the locking spring. A suitable hollowedtool will be used to engage the flange I64 of the band and press theindicator down into engagement with the outer lips of the lockingspring.

If an attempt is made to remove the seal cap for opening the closure,and the screw cap is unscrewed in the usual manner, it will risegradually with the helix of the thread and its lower beaded portion I65will lift the indicator band. The latter in turn will upwardly deflectthe outer lips 172, of the locking spring, thereby "expanding the samediametrically and this will cause the band to crack or burst.

The seal cap may obviously be of any type, either with or withoutthreads.

Having thus described my invention what I 'claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device including a container, a tamperproof closure for thecontainer comprising a flanged seal cap threaded upon the container, a

ing a plurality of inwardly and outwardly directed fingers, theoutwardly directed fingers engaging said ratchet teeth like projectionsto prevent linear movement of the band, and the inwardly directedfingers engaging in the groove of said column to prevent linear upliftof'the spring itself, said inner lips acting as pivot point for saidspring upon the lifting of the band to spread and break the ring band,said spring having a solid middle panel bearing against said lower m'tbevelled shoulder, said .upper bevelledvshoulder having cut-awayportions forthe introduction oi a suitable tool.

2. A'tamperproof device for a container having a shelf-like beadthereon, comprising an outer frangible cap separable from the containerand having alower' widened portion normally supported by 'saidbead;tooth-like inwardly directed projections formed within said widenedportion, a'container having the said shelf-like bead thereon, similarprojections formed with the container locking with the projections ofthe cap to prevent circular movement of the same with respect to thecontainer, an inner sealing closure for the container, a column-likeupwardly directed extension-on said container, and means engaging saidouter cap and container to normally lock the outer cap and thereby toefiect a breaking of the outer cap on its intended removal.

3. A tamper-proof device for containers, comprisinga shelf-like bead, anouter frangible cap having a lower widened portion normally restingonsaid'bead, inwardly directed projections formed within said widenedportion, a container, similar projections formed with the containerlocking with the projections of the cap to prevent circular movement ofthe same with respect to the container, an inner seal closure for thecontainer, a column-like upward extending portion formed with said beadon said container having an annular groove and seat formed with the toppart thereof, an annular tooth-like projection formed with the cap, anannular spring having a flat approximately horizontal middle portionseated'on an annular seat formed with said column, and inwardly andoutwardly directed fingers or lips, the inner lips engaging in saidgroove and the outer lips engaging said toothlike projections, the toppart of said column being drawn in to clear the flat portion of thespring and a bevelled shoulder on the top of said column in whichsaidgroove is formed, to facilitate the mounting of the spring, saidprojections on the container adjacent to the column-like extensionadjoining the bead having laterally engaging sides, the correspondinglyformed projections of the cap and container co-cperating to break thecap on an attempt to remove said cap.

4. A device including a container having a threaded neck, an annularshelf-like bead, a band normally suported by said bead, an inwardlydirected annular ledge-like projection formed with said bandat itswidened lower portion and having a sectional profile similar to aratchet-tooth with its face turned up, an inwardly directed annularflange formed at the upper portion of said band, a sealing closurescrewed on the threaded neck of the container, a bead formed with thelower edge of the skirt of the sealing closure, engaged by the'annularflange of said band toprevent movement, a sealing disk compressedby theinner top of said sealing closure against the top wall of the container,to produce a liquid and airtight seal, notched annular shoulders formedwith the container, said notches for the insertion of a tool tofacilitate mounting of said spring, said shoulders forming an annulargroove and bevelled seat underneath, a conically shaped metallic springring resting on said bevelled'seat, inner and outer tongues, or lipsformed with said spring ring, the inner lips engaging the annulargroove, and the outer lips engaging the ledge-like projections of theband to preventuplift or linear movement, said seal closure raising theband by its flange, during unscrewing, the inner lips of the spring.then acting as pivot raising the spring through the engagement with theledge of said'band and hereby spreading the ring to expand and break theband through the engagement with the ratchet-toothlike projection.

5. A container and closure means including a container having annularexternal retaining means, an annular ring member annularly secured bysaid external means, said container hav ing an opening coaxial with saidmeans, a device secured to the container for controlling said opening,said device having an annular breakable skirt having an inwardlydirected annular shoulder adapted to pass below the ring member uponaxially applying the device to the container, said ring member having aseries of angularly spaced downwardly and outwardly projecting freeended prongs adapted to be downwardly inwardly deformed by said deviceon applying the same to the container, to cause said prongs to pass saidshoulder and snap over the same, said prongs being outwardly andupwardly deformed upon exerting an axial pull on the device, and saidprongs having their free ends bearing downwardly and outwardly at asubstantial angle on said shoulder and against said skirt to cause theprongs to be outwardly deflected to break the skirt upon causing upwardmovement of the said device.

6. A container and closure means including a container, the latterhaving a generally annularly extending recessing portion providing aseat, a ring member having angularly spaced resilient projections alongits inner and outer edges and having a seat portion intermediate of saidedges, said ring member being adapted to receive the container with theinner projections sprung into the recessing portion and projectingupward and inward therein, the seat portion of the ring member bearingdownward on the seat of the recessing portion, and a device forcontrolling an opening of the container, said device having a wallproviding an annular recessed portion into which the outer projectionsare adapted to be sprung upon relative downward movement of the device,said outer projections extending downwardly and outwardly to preventupward movement and removal of said device from the container. i

7. A container and closure means including a container, the latterhaving a generally annularly extending recess providing a bottom wall,an annular member having a portion for seating on said bottom wall, saidannular member having a seat portion and having resilient meansprojecting upward and inward of said recess for securing the annularmember against release from the container, said annular member havingresilient means projecting outward and downward in relative proximity tosaid bottom wall,

a the bottom wall of the recess being of larger diameter than the upperwall thereof to upwardly support said seat portion, and the annularmember being so coordinated with said walls as to be adapted to bepositionedin said recess by a downward force exerted on the seatingportion and means for controlling an opening of the container engageableby said downward and outward projecting means.

8. A container closure means characterized by a breakable indicatorportion, including an element having an opening, and means forcontrolling said opening including an inner member and an outer member,the inner member constituting a closure for the opening, said membersbeing freely axially independently movable toward said opening forengagement in assembly relation with said element, the closure memberbeing connectible to the element by an angular movement relativethereto, means for engaging the outer member in different angularpositions thereof to prevent axial removal thereof from assemblyrelation, except upon breakage of said breakable portion, said meansbeing inoperativeto prevent rotation of the outer member, and twodifi'erent means for restricting angular movements, one of said meanscomprising a series of axially freely interengaging irregularities onthe element and outer member, the other of said means comprising aseries of axially freely intereng'aging irregularities on the closureand outer member, one of said series having the pitch of itsirregularities substantially smaller than that of the other series ofirregularities, the different series being so related to each other thatin normally axially moving the outer member into assembly relation, theseries having the smaller pitch engages subsequently to the serieshaving the greater pitch.

9. A device including a container member, a

closure member therefor, a generally annular locking and breaking meanssecured in assembly relation by one of said members, and an indicatorelement having a preformed breakable portion and coacting with theclosure member to prevent removal thereof without breaking the breakableportion, said means having downwardly and outwardly projecting portions,the indicator element having a shoulder and being axially applied to thecontainer to cause the said portions to be downwardly inwardly deformedso as to snap over the shoulder and hold the indicator element againstremoval, with said portions extending downwardly and outwardly maleassembled position of the indicator element, and the indicator elementcausing said portions to be upwardly and outwardly deformed to expandand break the breakable portion upon exerting an upward stress on theindicator element to thus permit release of the closure, said portionsbeing at a substantial angle with the axis of the indicator element inthe assembled relation with the latter so as to be adapted to cause thesaid breaking action.

'10. A device comprising a container, a shelflike bead thereon, abreakable indicator element havinga lower widened portion normallysupported by said bead, a closure for the container disposed within theindicator element, tooth-like inwardly directed projections formedwithin said widened portion, a column-like upright extension on thecontainer similar projections formed on the extension'to interlock'withthe projections on the indicator element and prevent rotation beyond apredetermined degree of the same relative to the container, the saidprojections causing breakage of the indicator element upon forciblyrotating the latter, and means engaging the indicator element andsecured over the columnlike extension to lock the indicator elementagainst removal from the container except upon breaking the indicatorelement.

11. A container and closure means including a container having annularexternal engaging means, an annular ring member annularly en gaged bysaid external means, said container having an opening coaxial with saidmeans, a device secured to the container for controlling said opening,said device having an annular breakable skirt having an inwardlydirected annular shoulder adapted to pass below the ring member uponaxially app-lying the device to the container, said ring member having aseries of angularly spaced downwardly and outwardly projecting freeended prongs adapted to be downwardly inwardly deformed by said deviceon applying the same to the container, to cause said prongs to pass saidshoulder and snap over the same, said prongs being outwardly andupwardly deformed upon exerting an axial pull on the device, and saidprongs having their free ends bearing downwardly and outwardly at asubstantial angle on said shoulder-and against said skirt to cause theprongs to be'outwardly deflected to break the skirt upon causing upwardmovement of the said device, said container and device havingangularlyspaced projections interengaged by the axial application of thedevice to the container and serving in conjunction with the ring memberto break the breakable skirt upon combined upward and angular movementof said device.

12. An annular locking ring including a ring member of resilientmaterial and having angularly spaced inner and outer free endedprojections, the inner projections extending inwardly and upwardly, theouter projections extending outwardly and downwardly.

13." A device including a container section having a generally annularlyextending engagement portion, a ring member having angularly spacedinner and outerprojections, the inner projections extending inward andupward and the outer projections extending outward and downward, saidring member being adapted to receive the container section with theinner projections engaged by the said engagement portion to hold thering member against removal from the container section and to resistfurther downward movement of the ring member, and 'a device forcontrolling an opening of the container section, said device having anengagement portion adapted to receive the ring member upon downwardaxial movement of the device to cause the outer projections to snap overand interlockwith the engagement portion of the device to preventremoval thereof from the container section.

14. A device including a container having an opening, means forcontrolling said opening, said means including an indicator elementhaving a preformed lateral breakable portion, locking means onthe'container responsive to an axial application of the indicatorelement to the container, said locking means including a resilientdownward and outward extending portion; the indicator element having aninward extending portion over which said resilient portions snaps tothus lock the indicator element upon the axial application ofthe same tothe container, said resilient portion having its free edge in bearingengagement with the preformed breakable portion, said resilient portionbeing at a substantial angle to the axis of the indicator element,suflicient to cause the resilient portion to deflect upward and outwardto cause a lateral breaking of the breakable portion upon exerting'anupward stress on the indicator element, and a closure for the saidopening threadedly connected tothe container and projecting upwardthrough the indicator element, said closure having engagement with theindicator element so that the former cannot be removed without breakingthe latter and with the closure causing an upward axial movement of theindicator element upon rotation of the closure.

15. A device including a container having an opening, means forcontrolling said opening, said means including an indicator elementhaving a preformed lateral breakable portion, locking means on thecontainer responsive to an axial application of the indicator element tothe container, said locking means including a resilient downward andoutward extending portion, the indicator element having an inwarduniformly annularly extending portion over which said resilient portionsnaps to thus rotatably lock the indicator element upon the axialapplication of the same to the container, said resilient portion havingits free edge in bearing engagement with the preformed breakableportion, said resilient portion being at a substantial angle to the axisof the indicator element, sufficient to cause the resilient portion todeflect upward and outward to cause a lateral breaking of the breakableportion upon exerting an upward stress on the indicator element.

16. In combination, a container means having a recess providing a seat,a ring member having an inner portion extending inward'and upward, saidinner portion being received in said recess so as to cause the ringmember to be supported on said seat, said ring member having a pluralityof spaced outer portions projecting outward and downward, and a devicefor controlling the opening up of the container, said device having awall providing a recess into which said outer portions are adapted to besprung upon relative downward movement of the device to thus lock thelatter on the container means.

17. A container and closure means comprising in combination a containermember having an opening, a closure member secured to'the container toclose saidopening, a concealed resilient means seated on the container,said means being axially assembled with the container and being retainedthereon by one of the two named members,'and a preformed,externallyvisible readily breakable indicator member structurallyseparate from the closure member and at least partly covering it toprevent removal of the closure member, said indicator having an internalledge integral therewith adapted to deflect said resilient meansdownwardly and'inwardly upon movement of said indicator member into itsassembled position on the container so as to cause the resilient meansto automatically engage and snap over said ledge and thereby lock theindicator member to one of the other two named members to preventremoval of it out of its normal assembled position, said indicatormember being adapted to cause said resilient means to deflect upwardlyand spread outwardly to exert thereby a radial outward thrust upon theindicator member to break the same upon subjecting the indicator memberto an axial upward movement, and cam means on thevcontainer member andcam means on'one of the other two named members interengaging oneanother, said cam means on the container adapted to cause said means tocause radial outward stress upon the indicator member to break the sameupon a relative movement between container and at least oneof the othertwo named members for releasing the closure member from the indicatormember.

ADOLF SCHAUER.

